46 - Tips For A Tasty Vegetarian Thanksgiving
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving at your house and are expecting vegetarian guests this year, don’t worry about preparing one large meat eating meal, and another separate vegetarian meal. Most vegetarians do not require a ‘meat equivalent’ at Thanksgiving. Yes, traditionally Thanksgiving has largely about the food. But more importantly it’s about family, togetherness, happiness and peace. And if this is your first Thanksgiving after transitioning to a vegetarian lifestyle, try some of these ideas to incorporate healthy food preparation into your meal that your vegetarian guests, and you as host, will be thankful for this Thanksgiving:
- Bake some stuffing outside of the turkey.
- Make a small portion of vegetarian gravy.
- Keep cooking utensils separate to prevent "cross-contamination" between meat foods and vegetarian foods.
- When recipes are adaptable, use substitutions like vegetarian broth, soy margarine (the formulations without whey are suitable for vegans), soy milk, and kosher marshmallows which are made without gelatin.
- Use vegetable oils instead of animal fats for frying, and vegetable shortening like Crisco for pie crust.
- Read ingredients lists carefully on pre-packaged foods, being aware of terms like gelatin, whey, and "natural flavors" that can be animal-derived.
- Prepare plenty of vegetable and fruit side dishes, but leave them plain.
- Offer plenty of breads, beverages, fresh fruits, and non-gelatin desserts, which are suitable without modification for most vegetarians.
- Invite your vegetarian guest to prepare a “Tofurky” or vegetarian ‘turkey equivalent’ entrée to share with you the rest of your guests, or if you’re hosting Thanksgiving, prepare a small one. Your meat-eating guests might just be curious enough to want to try it!
- Ask your vegetarian guest for help, tips, or recipes that would complement their vegetarian choice. You may find that your guest offers to help out in the kitchen or bring a dish from home. Please don't take a dish from home as an insult to your cooking; take it as a desire to share traditions at Thanksgiving. Even meat-eating homes can benefit from a healthy, nutrient-dense vegetarian recipe idea any time of the year!
- Most importantly - make TONS of new, delicious (not overly cooked) vegetables that are perfectly in season like squashes, sweet potatoes, and green beans, etc.
Other Articles:
1 You Are What You Eat
10 Turkeys
11 Pig Farming
12 Fish, Mercury
13 Animal Suffering
14 Different Types Of Vegetarians
15 Vegetarians And Heart Disease
16 Vegetarians And Cancer
17 Bowels And Stomach Digestion
18 Weight
19 Osteoporosis
2 Humans Did Not Always Eat Meat.
20 Spirituality
21 Transition Family
22 Detoxification
23 Eliminate Red Meat
24 Eliminate Poultry
25 Eliminate Seafood
26- Got Milk? Reasons Not To Grab For The Glass
27 - Flipping The Switch To Vegetarianism
28 - Variety Adds Vitality To Your Vegetarian Meals
29 - Lazy Vegetarians Who Choose The Wrong Carbs Risk Health
3 Why Did Humans Start Eating Meat?
30 - Proper Planning Prevents Problems
31 - Vegetarian Diet For Optimal Personal And Environmental Health
32 - The Benefits Of A Vegetarian Diet To Diabetics
33- Sample Two-day Diabetic Vegetarian Menu
34- The Special Needs Of The Pregnant Vegetarian
35 - Sample Daily Menu For Pregnant Vegetarians
36 - Going Vegetarian During Your Pregnancy
37 - The Healing Effects A Vegetarian Diet Has On Your Post-baby Body
38 - Sample Vegetarian Diet Including Essential Fatty Acids To Promote Healing
39 - What To Feed Your Vegetarian Baby
4 Traditional Meat
40 - Variety Is The Spice Of Your Vegetarian Child’s Diet
41 - Putting Your Vegetarian Toddler On The Fast Track To Health
42 - Sample Menu Items For Your Growing Vegetarian Toddler
43 - Ideas For Adding Some Variety To Your Vegetarian Lifestyle
44 - Tips For A Vibrant Vegetarian Holiday Filled With Variety
45 - Veggies Take Center State At Your 4th Of July Cookout
46 - Tips For A Tasty Vegetarian Thanksgiving
47 - Remembering The Reasons For A Vegetarian Season
48 - Variety In Your New Vegetarian Diet
49 - The Environmental Costs Of Factory Farming And Ranching
5 Why Switch To Vegetarianism
50 - Nourishing Our Body, Nourishing Our Spirit
6 Peta
7 Caged Chickens And Hormones
8 Cow Slaughterhouses
9 Veal